See you there!

Join early childhood professionals to grow your skills, make an impact, and connect with a community that shares your passion.

See you there!

Join early childhood professionals to grow your skills, make an impact, and connect with a community that shares your passion.

The first three years of life are the most important for lifelong mental health and well-being.

We use early childhood development research to create meaningful resources for families, professionals, and policymakers who shape the lives of young children.

Impact Stories

Discover real-world stories and learn about people who make a real impact.

To be able to interact with people within ZERO TO THREE who are on the same page as me, that mutual understanding is a balm to my soul.

Dr. Mollie Nisen

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Our Focus

At ZERO TO THREE, we offer early childhood trainings and resources to address the most critical issues impacting babies and toddlers. Explore our fields of focus.

Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health

Racial Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Trauma

Early Learning

Early Development

Physical Health & Nutrition

Child Care

Child Welfare

Economic Security

Making an Impact Together

Our belief that every child deserves a strong start in life fuels a collective mission to foster healthy development from the very beginning.

Support for Parents and Caregivers

Understanding child development and your role as a parent or caregiver is crucial for molding babies and toddlers into the best versions of themselves. We support parents and caregivers through our projects and programs and early childhood development resources, including research-based tips and tools for effective parenting.

Resources for Professionals

Advance your knowledge and skills with our comprehensive early childhood education training programs for professionals. Our resources, from conferences to free webinars, provide guidance for educators, health care workers and other early childhood professionals. They are designed to enhance your understanding of childhood development and inform effective teaching strategies.

Policy and Advocacy

ZERO TO THREE advocates for policies that promote the well-being and development of babies and toddlers as well as their families. We engage in research and collaborate with policymakers and state legislators to influence legislation related to early childhood education, child welfare and child care solutions. We dedicate our efforts to ensure the needs of infants and toddlers are prioritized in public policy decisions.

Mental and Emotional Health

We emphasize the importance of mental and emotional health in infancy and early childhood development. We provide resources and training for parents, caregivers and professionals on how to nurture emotional well-being in babies and toddlers. Through our programs and campaigns, we promote awareness of the critical impact of early experiences on mental health. We also develop guidelines and tools that you can use to support the mental and emotional needs of babies and toddlers.

Community Support

Our programs, early childhood development resources and training programs empower communities. In addition to offering local resources, we facilitate training sessions for community organizations and professionals to enhance their capacity to support children and families effectively. By fostering community engagement and collaboration, we help create environments that nurture healthy childhood development.

"This is just what I needed to reestablish my motivation in moving forward with this work."

The Latest News and Featured Resources

Explore the latest news and updates in the field of early childhood development.

Distillation

The Child Care Paradox: Families Pay More, Educators Earn Less

America’s child care system is collapsing . Families are paying more than they can afford, while the very educators who make care possible remain some of the lowest-paid workers in the country. The result? Families are squeezed, programs are closing, and children are caught in the middle.

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Resource

Problem Solvers: A Free Preschool STEM Curriculum

Children can learn about math, science and engineering through everyday play. Download our complete preschool and early STEM curriculum, activity guide and songs.

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Resource

The Baby Brain Map: Your Guide to Early Brain Development

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Supporting Families: Young Children and Gun Violence

The devastating impact of mass shootings and everyday gun violence touches even our youngest children.

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Good Question

Understanding Toddler Behavior: What’s Typical and When to Seek Help

When we start to wonder about a child’s mental health, it’s not about labeling or fixing. It’s about noticing patterns, asking questions, and partnering with families to better understand what might be going on.

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Distillation

Why the First 1,000 Days Matter: Advocacy Tips for Early Childhood Professionals

An early childhood advocacy guide for professionals who want to be a big voice for little kids.

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Resource

Preventing Burnout in Early Childhood Professionals: Practical Self-Care Strategies

Understanding the common causes and exploring ways to address burnout in early childhood education can help you effectively manage or even prevent it..

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Virtual Event

Strengthening the IECMH Workforce: New Competencies, Shared Supports

In a time when mental health challenges are touching families and professionals alike, supporting the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) workforce has never been more critical.

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Distillation

The Importance of Responsive Parenting: Building Strong Emotional Bonds From Birth

Responsive parenting builds strong emotional bonds between caregivers and their young children. Learn more and get responsive caregiving tips.

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Distillation

Buzzwords Explained: Reflective Practice

Reflective practice is a tool that invites us to pause and slow down to become aware of thoughts, feelings and reactions that arise in everyday interactions.

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Distillation

Your Calm Is Their Calm: Co-Regulation Strategies for Infants and Toddlers

As parents, caregivers, or early childhood professionals, we’re often told that young children need help learning to manage their emotions. But what does that actually look like for babies and toddlers who don’t yet have the words to explain how they feel?

This is where co-regulation comes in.

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From birth to 3, a child’s brain produces more than 1 million neural connections each second.

Upcoming Events:

Check out our upcoming in-person and virtual events.

Virtual

September 10, 2025

The Growing Brain: From Birth to 5 Years Old Virtual Training of Trainers

Our newly designed virtual Training of Trainers combines live online events and self-study to support your journey towards becoming a ZERO TO THREE certified trainer of The Growing Brain curriculum.

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Virtual

September 24, 2025

Reflective Practice Reflections: Voices Calling Us to Action, Connection, and Community

Join us on a reflective journey through past and future LEARN Conference Practice Plenaries, highlighting powerful voices and insights.

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Virtual

September 30, 2025

IECMH Financing Webinar 2: Understanding True Costs of IECMH Programs and Services

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Baltimore, MD

October 6, 2025

Faculty Institute: DC:0–5™

Dive into the only diagnostic classification system focused on mental health for infants and young children, birth to 5 years old.

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Baltimore, MD

October 6, 2025

Faculty Institute: Critical Competencies

Transform teacher-child interactions with the essential skills needed to optimize social-emotional, cognitive, and language and literacy development—the ZERO TO THREE Critical Competencies for Infant-Toddler Educators™

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Baltimore, MD

October 7, 2025

Pre-Conference Forum: Leadership for Wellness

Join us for this engaging forum to explore the latest research and effective methods for supporting well-being.

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Baltimore, MD

October 7, 2025

Pre-Conference Forum: In This Together

Gain valuable insights into building enduring, collaborative relationships that strengthen the well-being of children, families, communities, and yourself.

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Baltimore, Maryland

October 8, 2025

LEARN Conference 2025

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Virtual

October 21, 2025

IECMH Financing Webinar 3: Filling the Gap: Tax Revenue Building

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Virtual

November 4, 2025

DC:0—5™: Clinical Training

Tailored for those working with infants and young children, focusing on assessment, diagnosis, and case formulation.

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Virtual

November 5, 2025

The Growing Brain Basics Webinar Series

Explore how the brain grows and develops from conception to 5 years old and how you can support healthy brain development during these years when the brain is the most plastic, or receptive to change.

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Let's make babies and families a national priority.

Your gift to ZERO TO THREE will help give children the best possible start in life.

Supporting a child in their first 1,000 days is a gift that can last a lifetime!

A Closer Look

New Early Childhood Books and Best Sellers | ZERO TO THREE

Explore our vast range of evidence-based resources and educational books designed to strengthen your practice.

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Join the Think Babies™ Campaign!

Learn about how you can get involved in the Think Babies™ campaign to promote enriching early experiences and a strong foundation from the start. It's time for policymakers to think babies.

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Early Childhood Issue Areas

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Calling All Baby Champions

Whether you're a parent, caregiver, community leader or policymaker, you can support our efforts and do your part in giving infants and toddlers a strong start in life.

Sign up for our newsletter to access the latest resources, learn about upcoming events and more. Help advance our initiative by making a donation or becoming a member.